MP4 vs MKV
How do MP4 and MKVcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.mp4
Full guide →MPEG-4 Part 14
MP4 is the most widely used video format in the world. It's the default for everything from YouTube to TikTok, smartphones to streaming services. If you need one video format that works everywhere, MP4 is it.
.mkv
Full guide →Matroska Video
MKV is the most flexible video container format available. It can hold virtually any codec and supports unlimited audio tracks, subtitles, and chapters. It's the format of choice for high-quality video enthusiasts.
| Specification | MP4 | MKV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | Matroska Video |
| Extension | .mp4 | .mkv |
| MIME type | video/mp4 | video/x-matroska |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Developer | ISO / Moving Picture Experts Group | Matroska.org |
| Year introduced | 2001 | 2002 |
MP4 advantages
- Universal compatibility
- Excellent compression with H.264/H.265
- Supports subtitles and multiple audio tracks
- Streaming-friendly with progressive download
MP4 limitations
- Lossy compression
- Patent-encumbered codecs
- Quality varies greatly by encoding settings
- Large files at high quality
MKV advantages
- Supports virtually any codec
- Multiple audio and subtitle tracks
- Chapter support
- Open source and free
MKV limitations
- Not natively supported by all players
- Not ideal for streaming
- Large files at high quality
- No hardware playback on some devices
Which should you use?
MP4 is the universal standard — it works everywhere. MKV has its niche: movie collections and media servers. When in doubt, convert to MP4 for maximum compatibility.
Best uses for MP4
Best uses for MKV
Convert between MP4 and MKV
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.